Recap

It wasn’t the best spectacle but Rangers did the job that mattered and minimised the Congleton threat.

Rangers were without Mitch Clarke who faces a spell on the sidelines following the injury picked up during the defeat at Lower Breck. One other notable change to the starting line up saw Russell Saunders replace Leon Phillips in goal.

After a scrappy start that saw Congleton probably edge the opening minutes, Rangers settled and came close to an opener when Scott Bakkor’s shot bounced up against the post.

Harvey Washington then threatened with a header that was cleared away by Peter Williams.

Rangers made the pressure tell and it was Ellis Horan who was the man on target yet again. He produced a fine finish, curling his shot beyond the reach of Dave Parton to give Rangers a 19th minute lead.

Bakkor went close to doubling the lead soon after but his side had to settle for just the solitary goal as the sides went in at the break.

Half Time: Congleton Town 0 Stafford Rangers 1

Kyle Sambor had the first opportunity of the second half when he got the better of Owen Morris but couldn’t beat Parton.

A minute later, Congleton produced their first shot on target but Joe Woolley’s effort lacked the necessary to get past Saunders.

A flick from Sambor was well saved by Parton after good work from Horan then the Congleton keeper held on to a well struck drive from Todd Ferrier as Rangers began to assert their authority.

There were moments of alarm as Washington had to intercept a shot from Rob Stevenson while Kieran Knapper should have done better when he clipped a shot high over the bar.

If Knapper’s was a bad miss, Luca Navarro’s chance with a couple of minutes to go was far, far worse.

Beto Gomes forced his way through on the right and squared for Navarro to tap in but, instead, he managed to clear the bar from a couple of yards out.

In the end, it mattered not as Rangers picked up the three points that lifts them above Hanley Town.

Full Time: Congleton Town 0 Stafford Rangers 1

Congleton Town: 1 Dave Parton, 2 Matt Liptrott, 3 Owen Morris, 4 Peter Williams, 5 Jack Bates, 6 Julius Ndene (12 Darren Chadwick 88m), 7 Kieran Knapper (15 Theo Knight 82m), 8 Shakeel Jones-Griffiths (17 Ethan Vale 79m), 9 Rob Stevenson, 10 Joe Woolley (16 James Kirby 63m), 11 Matty Gillam (14 Dylan Scott 90+3m)

Stafford Rangers: 13 Russell Saunders, 2 Beto Gomes, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Todd Ferrier, 5 Andy Burns, 6 Tom Tonks (19 Remi Efunnuga 63m), 7 Kyle Sambor, 9 Scott Bakkor (14 Wealth Da Silva 68m), 10 Jack Birch, 16 Ellis Horan (17 Luca Navarro 73m), 18 Harvey Washington. Unused Subs: 12 Ty Webster, 15 Anis Zaknoune

Referee: Jamie Roberts

Cautions: Congleton: Williams 42m, Jones-Griffiths 79m Stafford: Bakkor 49m, Birch 55m, Gomes 68m

Goals: Stafford Horan 19m

Att: 574

Report by Chris Elsley